Followers

All About lil o' Me

Just call me your Budget Barista. I have been married for 20 years to the best man on this planet. He's sweet, caring, kind, but most of all he makes me laugh. We have Three adorable kids. A beautiful sweet pea girl, A 'superman' boy, and a love bug baby girl. We just love that we live where people vacation...where the ocean meets the sky. We live a wonderful life. I love my life and I thank Christ for giving it to me. Some random things about me are I enjoy baking, quilting, paper crafting, jewelry making, scrapbooking, and loving on my family. I am a Princess in the Kingdom of the King of Kings, diet coke drinking baby kisser. We are a homeschooling family but are part of a hybrid program where the children attend a 'classroom' 2 days a week and we do the rest at home. It's a blast. We also love to vacation and explore God's world around us. I think that's enough for now. :-)

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Orange County Great Park Balloon Rides

The helium (not hot-air) balloon, which is located in the 27.5-acre Preview Park, provides a great view of Orange County from 400 feet in the air. There is a charge for parking, but each balloon ride is free.

Free Flights, Day & Night, Year Round!

The Great Park Balloon is the Orange County Great Park’s first major attraction. With the ability to hold up to 25 to 30 visitors and soar up to 400 feet above the surrounding landscape, passengers can watch the Great Park’s development unfold as construction activity increases.

The Balloon envelope was upgraded in December 2009 and now features a UV protected envelope and internal illumination.

General Balloon Hours

Flight Tip: Availability to fly is on a first-come, first-serve basis. All flights are dependent on winds and weather conditions. Conditions are generally best before 12 Noon or after sunset. Holidays: The Balloon will follow its general schedule, including days that fall on holidays, unless noted otherwise in the list of closure dates (to the left). Special Events: Balloon hours may change during special events. Be sure to check ocgp.org/events for updates on a per-event basis.

Questions, Comments, or Concerns?Please email us or call the Visitors Centers at 1-(866) 829-3829 (toll-free)

Before You Fly

Parking & Registration. Parking opens 30 minutes before regular operating hours (see above). Registration for day flights begin at 9:45 a.m. on weekdays and 8:45 a.m. on weekends; registration for night flights begin at 6:00 p.m. All flights are on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is limited availability to fly on a daily basis.

Registration. Every potential passenger must sign a waiver at the registration desk in the Visitors Center prior to getting a boarding pass. Waivers for Children under the age of 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

General Restrictions & Passengers with Disabilities. There are no age, height, or health restrictions to fly on the Great Park Balloon.

Did You Know?

The Great Park Balloon is one of the largest tethered helium balloons (not hot air) and the first of its kind in the United States. It is environmentally safe, non-polluting, and virtually silent. The Balloon is always tethered to the ground with a steel cable and is never in a state of free flight, making it both a safe and fun experience for everyone.

Fun Facts. The balloon stands 118 ft high with a volume of 210,000 ft3. The gondola weighs 1,810 lbs and can hold up to 30 passengers at a time. Flying up to 400 ft in the air, the tether holding the balloon to the ground has the strength of 99,000 lbs!

Great Park CarouselFree!
Thursday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Check-in is required at the Visitors Center. Riders under 42″ must be accompanied by an adult. Rides are approximately two minutes long. Rides are Free.